ShopliftingWhen I was young and impressionable and on holiday in France, I followed some friends into a sweet shop and we each stole something. I was so mortified by this, I returned them.
My lack of French hampered this somewhat - they had no idea why the small English boy wanted to add some chews to the open box, and saw it as an attempt by a nasty foreigner oik to contaminate their stock. Not my best day.
What have you lifted?
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chthonic, Thu 10 Jan 2008, 11:13)
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Badge of dishonourAs a plucky 10 year old, not the kind that might steal anything that he wants, or that is useful, but one who may just want to shoplift to see what it is like, I stole a badge.
May I interrupt myself at this point to apologise for the length of the first sentence.
I went for a day out with my parents to Duncombe Park, Helmsley, a stately home with gardens. I spent a long time in the giftshop dithering over what to steal. I was sure that the old lady volunteers were wise to my plan so I maintained a stealthy approach. At the perfect moment I snuck a tiny badge with the Duncombe Park crest into my tracksuit bottoms pocket and zipped it up.
I stepped outside the shop and felt, nothing, except maybe a bit silly and slightly naughty.
However, the very next day my mother found the badge behind the clock in my bedroom. How she knew it was contraband, and why she was looking behind the clock in the first place still baffles me. I have never since received quite as acute an admonishing. I was forced through tears to write a letter of apology to the CEO of Duncombe Park, enclosing the loot and promising to suffer any consequences that were forthcoming.
I spent the next weeks in a constant state of fear, waiting for the Old Bill to come and lock me up, throw away the key and the rest. I wasn't worried about rape, as I hadn't yet heard of it.
The kind and philosophical CEO wrote back to me, re-enclosing the badge and asking me if I had learned my lesson and if I would like to keep the badge as a reminder of my shame and to keep as a penance for the rest of time.
I haven't shoplifted since then but I do steal a lot of food and drink from work on a regular basis. Hey, I can't give it back.
Apologies for length (of the first sentence mainly)
(, Thu 10 Jan 2008, 15:32, 2 replies)
Do you still have the badge?It'd be nice if you do. *click*.
(, Fri 11 Jan 2008, 13:30, closed)
Food and drink.Well, you COULD give it back, but would they really want it.
Your story, btw, was great.
(, Sat 12 Jan 2008, 20:14, closed)
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